Jovanka sat on the thick carpet with her head bowed. Perhaps hoping that Altezza would take pity on her and surrender again. But this time, Altezza had truly hardened his heart.
He looked at the middle-aged couple still standing in their place, who instantly lowered their heads when they saw the cold expression on Altezza's face.
"You are now my witnesses. Listen to me. I am Altezza Quirino, and from now on, I have no relationship with her. We started this relationship amicably, and we will part amicably as well.
"And this house, as I promised you, will be yours.
"I hope you are happy, and I hope the film you will work on is successful. I always wish the best for you," Altezza said and left Jovanka, who was just frozen in her place, trying to absorb all the words Altezza had spoken.
"I won't give up, Al! I will come back!
"After all this is over, you will come back to me. And I will be yours, Al!" she shouted from the staircase. But Altezza didn't care. For him, everything was finished until here.
Altezza walked back to the backyard and hurriedly made his way to where his car was parked. Suddenly, he missed his mother. He needed someone who genuinely loved him. He needed his mother's embrace.
Altezza drove his car to his mother's residence and was quite surprised to see the presence of his uncle and aunt, Antony's parents.
"Uncle, Aunty," he greeted, hugging both of them in turn. "When did you come?" Altezza asked, puzzled.
"Last night. We stayed at Antony's place. We just came here," Mrs. Brianna, Antony's mother, replied.
"Just the two of you? Where's Flavia?"
"As usual, at her friend's house," Antony's mother replied. "That girl is getting even more attached to Claire." She commented with a smirk that couldn't be hidden.
"Uncle, just pray that aunty gets good news soon. Antony openly told me that he's going after Claire," Altezza replied casually.
A snort accompanied the approaching footsteps behind him. "You pray for your aunt to get good news, then what about me?" Mrs. Delila Quirino, his biological mother, asked with annoyance.
Altezza turned around, looking at his mother with a broad smile. His hands opened wide, and instantly, he hugged his mother tightly before planting a kiss on her cheek.
"So, Mamma is also eager to get a daughter-in-law?" he teased. "So, is it me first, or Antony first?" he playfully asked his mother.
"Have you found a future wife?" his mother asked, furrowing her brows and looking at her only son with curiosity.
"Having a wife is easy, Mamma." Altezza waved his hand casually. "I just need to make an announcement right now, and this evening there will surely be many women lining up. I'm proud of that," he said with pride.
"Do you think it's that easy?!" His mother slapped his arm quite hard.
"I don't want you to choose a wife carelessly. You have to marry a woman with a clear background. She doesn't have to be beautiful, she doesn't have to be a famous actress either because I don't want to be bothered by paparazzi or infotainment. Just a good woman who can be a good wife and daughter-in-law. Someone who can give me many grandchildren.
"I want this house to be noisy again. Like when you were little," his mother said.
"Easy, Mamma. If the criteria are just that, is three wives enough? Or four?" he teased mischievously.
"Oh God, Al. Be careful with your words!" His father, who came from the back of the house, exclaimed, looking neat in a dark brown collared shirt and white trousers. "You can't even satisfy the emotional needs of one wife, how can you want three wives?" His father, Mr. Benjamin Quirino, said while shaking his head. Meanwhile, his mother hit his arm again, and his aunt smiled.
"It was Mamma's request, Padre. Right, Aunty? Aunty heard it herself.
"One wife to be a good daughter-in-law. The second wife to give Mamma many grandchildren.
"What about the third one?" His aunt asked with a mischievous smile.
"Of course, a beautiful woman who can satisfy me, aunty. A wife created specifically for me." He joked, receiving another hit on his arm.
"You're something else. That's why, find a wife who has everything Mamma and you want in one package." His mother retorted, patting Altezza's arm hard.
"That package is Mamma's makeup treatment. Or a gift basket." Altezza replied jokingly, making his mother pout. "Yes, yes. Later, I will find a woman with the full package."
"Don't look for just anyone. Don't casually find a woman on the streets." His mother reprimanded again.
"Don't compare my future wife to a street-side hot dog, Mamma." His playful remark was met with laughter from everyone. Altezza continued to smile, although inside, he winced in pain.
Altezza really wanted to make his mother happy, but finding a potential wife that meets his mother's criteria wouldn't be easy, just like Antony's described ideal.
Where could he find a good woman whom he could marry and who would be a suitable daughter-in-law for his mother?
Altezza did have many female friends, whether from school, college, work, or just acquaintances. However, he had never gotten to know them personally. The only woman he loved in his adulthood was Jovanka. And that relationship had now ended. He had no exes because he had never dated anyone before. And now, the only woman who caught his attention other than Jovanka was Claire. But she was already his cousin's choice. Besides, Altezza didn't love Claire; he admired her for her assertiveness and confidence.
So now, how could he prove his words to Jovanka? Where could he find a wife who fit his mother's and cousin's criteria? Where should he start everything?
Altezza would think about it later. There was still a year until Jovanka returned. And he believed that within that time, he would find the wife he needed.
He would marry her, with or without love. He decided within himself.